33 Things That’ll Make You Seem Like An Expert Cook, Even If You Can Barely Scramble Eggs

Here's to fooling your taste buds with super handy gadgets and appliances, and packaged convenience food.

1. An Instant Pot – it can handle 9 (!!!!) kitchen tasks in one precious lil' appliance body so dinner's ready as soon as you walk in the door. Reviewers call it their "secret weapon," which I guess isn't so secret anymore. Psst, this is great whether you eat meat or not!

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This baby serves as a rice cooker, pressure cooker, slow cooker, steamer, sauté, yogurt maker, sterilizer, and warmer. Pinterest has been all about the Instant Pot for a few years and you should really hop on this bandwagon. Just check out our full review of the Instant Pot and Instant Pot recipes that'll basically cook themselves. Still unconvinced? Look at all the yummy Amazon reviewer photos.

Promising review: "It makes dinner fast and easy, and if you're like my family and default to vegetarian due to the simple fact that dealing with meat is too much with two kids and everyone getting home at 6:30 p.m., it's a godsend for better protein in your life." —Noel

Get it from Amazon for $79.95+ (available in 3-, 6-, or 8-quart sizes). Also check out an 11-in-1 Instant Pot with an air fryer.

2. And some slow-cooker liners to make cleanup a total cinch. Sometime a super easy cleanup can help motivate yourself to cook (or maybe that's just me).

Amazon

I use these and they're THE BEST.

Get a box of six liners from Amazon for $2.94.

3. A family size air fryer with an auto-shutoff so you don't overcook those delectable wings someone will assume you picked up from somewhere. Plus it'll help you finally cook the elusive salmon fillet.

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Promising review: "We are really loving this air-fryer! The large basket size makes it perfect for even cooking, even for one or two people. I’m happy that I bought the larger size instead of the 3.7-quart. My husband is a meat eater, and I am not. We cook different foods for most meals. It’s easy to just wash it quickly in between, although adding a sheet of aluminum foil to the bottom of the pan enables us to just wash the basket between foods, since otherwise we would need to wait for the unit to cool down." —Wanda Brooks

Get it from Amazon for $79.99+ (available in five colors).

4. Pre-made simmer sauces that'll really zhuzh up that plain chicken breast you have thawing in the sink. Seriously, just dump that sauce on it once it's cooked in the pan! (Psst, they're also Keto- and Paleo-friendly but IMO don't taste like it.)

Amazon

I've tried nearly all of these sauces and can vouch they dress up all kinds of stuff. If you're craving some takeout food you're too lazy to replicate at home, some of these (esp the Thai Coconut Sauce that's shown here) will help you get some of that taste without buying a million ingredients.

Promising review: "These sauces are magic. A high end trick added to our meal prep. Really tasty options. We have been doing meal prep for quite a while and the salt and pepper meals where getting old. We tried to incorporate skillet sauces into our meals and tried all the brands out there. They were ok but not very healthy. When I saw these on Amazon I had to try them (Keto and Paleo Certified) and they taste amazing. Now we have a different flavor each and every day and we can still keep the diet." —Fernando Pimentel

Get a three-pack from Amazon for $15 (available in a variety of combos).

5. Or The Omsom Bundle, which is really just fancy talk for flavorful Asian dish starters (aka, the sauces, aromatics, and seasonings) to keep stashed in your pantry for heavy lifting. Each comes with recipes you can easily follow along. Just add protein and veggies!

Omsom

Cofounders and sisters Vanessa and Kim Pham started Omsom after stints at startups and in consulting. As the kids of Vietnamese refugees, they were inspired by all the from-scratch Viet dinners they watched their mom cook growing up. With Omsom, they aim to bring lots of flavor to your pantry with their pantry starters that'll help you make some amaaaazing Asian dishes. Each starter serves two to three people. (Fantastic news for lazy people like me who buy a spice once, and then let it expire.)

This bundle will give you some major kick for your buck. It includes the entire Omsom collection of six cuisines with 12 starters total, including: 1 Southeast Asian Omsom Sampler with Vietnamese, Thai, + Filipino starters and 1 East Asian Omsom Sampler with Japanese, Korean, + Chinese starters.Promising review: "Delicious and easy dinner. I love the flavors because they are nostalgic and delicious and make meal time a breeze with my kids." —Suzanne R.

Get it from Omsom for $55.

6. A rapid egg cooker to get your favorite breakfast or salad topping *just* how you like it, rather than tossing improperly cooked eggs (for the millionth time). Maybe you'll love it so much, you'll buy two(!) like my friend Marissa.

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Promising review: "If hard-boiled eggs are at all a part of your life, this device will change everything. Reclaim lost hours, catch up on missed TV, reconnect with old friends and family — anything is possible with the free time you'll find at your disposal as you drop six eggs into this beast, press a button, and then walk away. What will you do? High-intensity exercise? Model building? Learn a second language? I hear your concern. 'What if I become so engrossed in my newfound love of taxonomy that I forget about my eggs?' Fear not, efficient chef. Like the trump of Gabriel himself, the unmistakable tone of this technological marvel could rouse the dead and will bring you running to your fresh-and-ready ova's side. The Dash Go Rapid Egg Cooker is what mankind has been working towards since the first roundish stone was shaped into a wheel. Witness the apex of human innovation! Did not love the poaching tray." —J. Mercer Crenshaw

Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in seven colors). Also check out the double-decker version.

7. An AeroGarden hydroponic garden that'll help you be one of THOSE people who use fresh homegrown herbs in their recipes. Talk about leveling up your cooking game by lightyears.

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It grows up to six plants at a time and includes seeds for Genovese Basil, Curly Parsley, Dill, Thyme, Thai Basil, and Mint.

Promising review (for the pic on left): "I have a black thumb which I think is important to add to this review. I planted everything photographed 1/3/19 and I took this photo this morning (2/5/19) it takes care of itself and they grow a little bit more each day. It's the most exciting part of my morning routine.. will my coffee brews I admire my plants! I used the basil and parsley from the packet that came with the kit. But I ordered my own seeds along with the 'plant anything kit' to grow jalapeno + poblano peppers, Roma tomatoes and marijuana." —kristy campbell

Get it from Amazon for $111.04.

8. A variety pack of A Dozen Cousins ready-to-eat seasoned beans, an extremely tasty recipe of a dinner staple. You only have to put the bag in the microwave for 60 seconds, which'll help you concentrate on the other parts of your meal. (I love the Trini Chickpea Curry with rice for a super satisfying weekday lunch.)

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The founder based his flavorful creations off his own Creole, Caribbean, and Latin kitchen.

Promising review: "Who writes a review about beans? Somebody who loves beans but had given up on them, until now. This is a great product. Canned beans from my local supermarket are always a disappointment so I stopped getting them. I don't have time to cook beans myself but A Dozen Cousins beans are fresh and taste terrific. I am trying to eat healthier and these are a great way to do that. I've been trying to avoid packaged, processed foods but the natural ingredients make these different. I can feel good about eating them. The beans are whole and not mashed up like in cans. All of the varieties are seasoned well and versatile. I've had them on their own, in salads and in wrap sandwiches. I'm really happy to have found these and hope they continue to add new flavors and products. Do yourself a favor and order some. You won't regret it." —Amazon Customer

Get a pack of six from Amazon for $24.99.

9. A sous vide cooker to mind your food and make a cheap cut of steak taste like something from a fancy restaurant. It's truly so much easier than you think.

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Basically, sous vide cooking requires vacuum sealing your food and immersing it in water for consistent cooking temps that'll have you regret all those years you weren't do it. Go ahead, take a gander at sous vide recipes so good you'll side eye your oven. Now wipe the drool from your chin.

Promising review: "My husband cooked perfectly medium rare steak today from package to plate in under three hours! Easy to use, clamp helps to use it with conventional curved cooking pots. Motorized water circulation ensures even distribution of hot water even in a large container! Steak was perfect medium rare for me, rare pink juicy meat in the center, evenly colored but no excessive runny red juices. Texture is even throughout! Which is incredible! No chewy tough ends or corners. He cooked a couple of Costco strip steaks, with uneven thickness...still perfect medium rare through and through!" —ghalib manjurr

Get it from Amazon for $79.99.

10. A stuffed burger press for creating a no-mess meat hug around delicious toppings like you're living in the year 3020. Sometimes all ya' need is a lil' excitement to get cookin'.

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Make cleanup even easier by using plastic wrap on the tool.

Promising review: "The top has a protrusion that pushes the excess beef to the sides of the container, creating a perfect pocket for whatever toppings you care to add. Simply add some more ground beef to the top and press down with the top to create a perfect seal. The sealed burgers are easily extracted — the bottom plate can be pushed from below, allowing you to easily extract the burger without disturbing the contents or the shape. Drop them on the grill and you are ready to go. It really is as easy as that." —Christopher J. Hamilton

Get it from Amazon for $9.99.

11. A variety pack of delish fully-cooked Indian chana that'll quickly heat up in the microwave and satisfy any takeout cravings you may have. I've tried all of these and they are SO good.

Elizabeth Lilly / BuzzFeed

Maya Kaimal is a legacy Indian food brand founded by its namesake (a two time award-winning, best-selling Indian cookbook author) in 2003. It sells tons of shelf-stable pantry items that are great if you're like me and HORRIBLE at planning out meals.

I'm queen of convenience foods (though really am trying to cook more!) but get bored very easily with what I eat. Seriously, every day is a struggle to not order off a food delivery app. (Hey, I'm supporting the local economy!) I've tried all of the varieties from this pack and have found them all to be super satisfying and filling when I pair them with some long grain rice. They make a VERY easy WFH day lunch that doesn't leave me hangry by 3 p.m. To prep, you simply open the package a few inches and put it in the microwave to heat. I'm no expert on Indian food but have eaten a fair bit of it in my life and I find that these are super flavorful but won't leave you breathing fire. *And* if you have leftovers, I simply leave it in the package, close it with a chip clip, and store it vertically in my fridge! You can see the Chickpeas + Coconut + Kale above with the brand's Turmeric + Cumin Surekha Rice.

Get six packs from Amazon for $24.99 (also check out the Dal variety pack).

12. And a spicy vindaloo simmer sauce from the same brand you can dump in a pan with chicken, veggies, whatever for a delicious result.

Elizabeth Lilly / BuzzFeed

Like I've professed, I'm not the BEST cook but adore a saucey dish. I've had great success with Maya Kaimal's shelf-stable sauces for making dinners that are super tasty, satisfying, and good enough to boast about on Instagram stories. Here, you can see me using my Always Pan where I threw in some bell pepper and chicken for a super saucey dish I served up with some long-grain rice I unearthed from my pantry. The directions are very user-friendly and not intimidating! If I can do it, you can do it.

Get a six-pack from Amazon for $19.99 (and check out the brand's other sauces).

13. A couple of pot minders to prevent some spill over that always seems to ruin a cooking session, even if you fully recover after!

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Promising review: "Are you a terrible cook? If you are, buy this! I can't cook. Every time I try to boil something, it's EVERYWHERE. These things are a lifesaver." —jenna

Get a set of one small and one large from Amazon for $16.99.

14. An excellent chef's knife can help you cut up those whole ingredients with finesse so that's one less thing you've gotta worry about. ICYMI, cutting with dull knives is extremely dangerous!

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Promising review: "I was a butcher for years and always used good knives for my work. Now, I love to cook but can't afford pricey knives. I saw the other reviews here and was very skeptical. After using this knife for two months as my main kitchen knife, I couldn't be any more impressed with it. I use and abuse it, throw it in the dishwasher and use it and abuse it again, and it keeps coming back for more. I use it on bone-in meats, veggies, tomatoes... whatever, and it retains its edge and still looks brand new. I haven't had to sharpen it at all yet, and it is still razor-sharp. I highly recommend it." —HSHS Dad

Get it from Amazon for $14.49+ (available in eight colors and several sizes/types).

15. And some cut-resistant gloves because nothing will throw a wrench in dinner plans like spurting blood. These'll keep your digits safe and instill more confidence.

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Promising review: "I just used these gloves with a SHARP mandolin to make razor-thin shallots for a made-from-scratch green bean casserole for the holidays. I'm SO happy I bought these because they WORK exceptionally well! I set my mandolin to the thinnest setting and used these gloves to get the finest thinly-cut shallots. Love, love, love this product." —Anne

Get them from Amazon for $11.49 (available in sizes S–XL).

16. A produce dicer that'll make onion tears and food prep mess a thing of the past! This way you won't waste so much energy on *evenly* spiralizing or chopping, a fool's errand! (Jk, but this'll make it way easier.)

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Promising review: "I love this veggie chopper. I often use it to make veggie soups and to make hashbrowns with onions and peppers. (Before this I would view that as far too much work due to the need to chop everything so finely.) I also use it to make zucchini spiral noodles for veggie 'spaghetti.' I appreciate the fact that it is easy to store the spare parts inside the spiralizer. Also, the brush is handy for cleaning." —SLC

Get it from Amazon for $21.69.

17. Or a manual food chopper for quick work of herbs, fruits, veggies, and ice in case your knife skills could use some practice or you just wanna make food prep a lil' more fun.

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It's also dishwasher-safe (top rack only!) so cleanup is super simple.

Promising review: "This is great for cutting lots of veggies super fast. All you have to do is rough chop down your veggies toss them in and give it four to five pulls for perfectly diced chunks for salsa or toppings on eggs or tacos. It comes with a handy cover too so all you have to do is rinse the blade and toss the container in the fridge or cooler." —Kevin B.

Get it from Amazon for $15.30+ (also available in green).

18. Silicone baking mats so you don't have to scrape those sheet pans clean or worry about your meal getting burnt. Folks use this for everything from cookies to pies to pizza to roasted veggies. They'll also help you seriously cut down on aluminum foil and parchment paper usage.

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Promising review: "Used for the first time last night to bake some salmon stuffed with crabmeat. The mat worked, kept everything clean, and the meal came out perfect. These are much easier to clean than my other baking mats that are textured too." —Molli

Get two from Amazon for $13.99.

19. A Pig of the Month Club subscription – it comes with lots o' meaty options that are all but ready for ya'. You don't have to start from scratch when it comes to cooking! Here's to the hard work having been already done for some amazing ribs.

@pigofthemonth / Via instagram.com

I recently tried this out while staying with my parents (who are big meat eaters and aren't afraid to tell me when they hate food... which they've been vocal about when I've tested other edible goodies for work). They are BIG fans.

You can buy items a la carte here or get a three-month subscription from Pig of the Month for $255.

20. And while we're on the subject, some tangy Memphis-style BBQ sauce you'll want to pour over basically everything on your dinner plate.

Pig of the Month

This stuff, also from Pig of the Month, is mouthwatering. My parents and I went through the initial bottle pretty quickly and then my mom bought two more.

Get it from Pig of the Month for $8.95.

21. A fish turner can help you FINALLY make a decent salmon filet at home that still looks presentable. It'll also be clutch for flipping pancakes and transferring hot gooey cookies from the baking sheet. (I use mine ALL the time.)

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Promising review: "This is my go-to turner when I'm cooking for anything — not just fish. I'm pretty particular about turners, which sounds odd, but if they aren't thin enough at the edge, it's hard to get them under the food. Metal is important so it's not floppy, and the length is great because it can hold larger pieces of food. Worth it." —Mary Schumann

Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in two sizes).

22. A rice cooker big enough to make 8 cups of rice but take up just a small amount of counter space. If you've ever messed up a pot of rice 1) I can relate 2) this story is for YOU.

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It also moonlights for fondue, noodles, soups, and hot pot! Get some dinner inspiration from 21 Unexpected Things You Can Make In A Rice Cooker.

Promising review: "The size is perfect. No leftovers. You must follow the directions. I am Hispanic and therefore cook rice differently than most. I was able to make authentic Puerto Rican rice by following the quantities and guidelines. No water spewed anywhere. I use short grain rice so it was ready in 25 minutes. It went right into the warm feature. Four people ate from this batch. I can’t wait to use again." —Anjanette King

Get it from Amazon for $24.99.

23. A no-knead bread kit if you'd like to create some lovely, lovely carbs without the cumbersome part.

Dough Dealer

Dough Dealer is a woman-founded company whose founders were inspired when a friend brought a homemade loaf of bread for dinner. Then they baked hundreds of loaves of bread to get the *just right* recipe for us, the lucky customers!

This ~foolproof~ kit has measured ingredients and easy directions to make the the perfect airy and crisp loaf. The process takes 15 minutes of active work plus 3 hours 45 minutes resting, rising and baking. So lots of hanging out time for you!

Get it from Dough Dealer for $18.99.

24. Or for even less effort, an automatic bread maker to help you whip up some breads, cakes, and jams that might just have friends texting you "Is that bread ready?"

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This machine has 12 settings: French, quick bread (no yeast), sweet, 1.5-pound express, 2-pound express, dough, jam, cake, whole grain, and bake. It allows you to select your loaf size and between a light, medium, or dark crust setting. Includes an interior pan and two kneading paddles that are all dishwasher-safe!

Promising review: "The machine is perfect!!!!. I already made two loaves of bread yesterday and am getting ready to make another loaf today. If you are lazy like me and would rather put all the ingredients into a machine and let it do all the work, this is the bread maker for you." —Pam Charmley

Get it from Amazon for $74.99.

25. A microwave pasta cooker that'll help you achieve al dente noods ready to top off with some jarred sauce for a super easy meal that doesn't require boiling water on the stove.

Amazon

Promising review: "I don't want to get all gushy over a pasta maker, but man...I really love this gizmo! I like spaghetti — either with normal Prego-type sauce or sometimes just with butter and Romano cheese sprinkled on. But I'm lazy and impatient, and don't like things that take a long time to make, with a bunch of steps, and a big clean up afterwards. The Fasta Pasta is perfect for me. I get the exact amount of correctly-measured spaghetti; it's faster than boiling water in a big pot then having to watch and stir the pasta; the pasta comes out perfectly cooked every time; and the cleanup is a snap." —Smilin Sam

Get it from Amazon for $16.99.

26. And some jarred truffle-infused pasta sauce for quite possibly the fanciest take on a lazy meal.

Amazon

The Pomodoro sauce is hearty without any spice. And the Arrabbiata sauce delivers the heat. I've tried both of these flavors of Truff pasta sauce and they are SO good. It likely goes without saying, but if you don't like truffles you won't like this. It is VERY truffle-y. I'm also a big fan of the Truff hot sauce from the same brand. Most of the time I make a meal of whatever pasta and jarred sauce I happen to have as a last resort, but I look forward to eating pasta with this delish sauce — even if it's just noods and sauce with not even a sprinkle of parm to dress it up! It'll cost ya more than Prego or other store-bought sauces. But it's worth it as a treat!

Get two jars from Amazon for $29.99.

27. A Frywall that'll fit around your pan and contain popping oil or spillover while you work on the house special. Nothing ruins an edible masterpiece like hot grease landing on your hand.

Amazon

BTW, it's BPA-free, FDA-compliant, heat-resistant up to 450 degrees F, and dishwasher-safe.

Promising review: "I was frying chicken with lard (yes, I use lard! My chicken is NOT health food.) and I put too much in the frying pan. A few minutes after putting the chicken in, the lard began to bubble up and if I hadn't had the Frywall in place, it would have spilled all over my stove. The Frywall creates a seal around my frying pan, stopping spillovers. Splatters don't escape, it's easy to work around it (turning my chicken over), and when I'm done, I just throw it in the dishwasher. If you do any frying at all, you want the Frywall. Helpful" —Carl G Brown

Get it from Amazon for $18.95 (available in two colors).

28. A beet and fresno hot sauce can doctor up most anything you have. Cheers to this when you're feeling uncreative.

Elizabeth Lilly / BuzzFeed

Hot N Saucy is a woman-owned and NYC-based small biz that has some super flavorful sauce options.

I've had this sauce over eggs, with grilled chicken and plant-based breaded "chicken" pieces seen here. It hasn't disappointed for anything! I'm somewhat obsessed with hot sauce and have five in my fridge at any given time but find myself reaching for this one often. The beet gives it a sweet twist and the fresno still gives it a bit of a kick that's not *too* hot. (Sometimes I like stuff that's too hot, but people that are OK with medium spicy would be happy with this.)

Get it from Hot N Saucy for $10.

29. A Rapid Ramen Cooker that'll transform a brick of noods into the base for a delish meal in just three minutes in the microwave! 'Tis time to put that ramen you've been hoarding the pantry to tasty use.

Amazon

Promising review: "God's ramen cooker. This thing may seem like just an ordinary Tupperware, but I assure you it will blow that thin plastic garbage out of the water. It retains heat amazingly and does not bend or falter under extreme temperatures. I'm a college student and I have never felt such joy from making ramen in my small dorm microwave, for a 900-watt I recommend five minutes. Buy this product if you live and breathe air, because it is beautiful." —Theron

Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (available in 15 colors).

30. A griddler to take meat and veggies from zero to delicious. Oh, and it's great for making a grilled cheese or panini!

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This handy gadget works as a contact grill, panini press, full grill, full griddle, and half grill/half griddle! It comes with removable and reversible nonstick cooking plates that are dishwasher-safe!

Promising review: "I used it for the first time today to make a grilled cheese sandwich. Yes, I'm so lazy I didn't want to make it on the stove and have to flip the sandwich over. It was outstanding — pepper jack cheese, bacon, and jalapeño slices — and the clean-up was simple. The cheese had bubbled out of the sandwich onto the plates and it wiped up easily. I probably won't put the plates in the dishwasher, but the fact that they're removable will make them easier to clean than my Foreman grill. I can wash them in the sink and they dry quickly and easily." —Gin Snob

Get it from Amazon for $79.95.

31. Chicken that ships marinated in case you're still a bit confused about that flavor-boosting process.

Elizabeth Lilly / BuzzFeed

I've given these Southwest Chicken Breasts a whirl and found I only had to add just a teensy bit of salt (I really like salt, OK?!) to tailor them to my own taste. I loved not having to worry about seasoning or saucing up these chicken breasts, and that they're individually packaged in a freezer-friendly format. I mostly stick to chicken and salmon for my at-home cooking proteins but have also given the brand's steaks a try and they're SO good. BTW, Good Ranchers' chicken is 100% American, all natural (with no hormones added ever). And the marinades are 100% natural and gluten-free.

Get a one-time purchase of 12.5 lbs. of organic marinated chicken from Good Ranchers for $149 (or Subscribe & Save for $120/every four months).

32. MingsBings, aka delicious vegan patties you can eat quickly. But these aren't your average convenience food. They're made by a James Beard award-winning chef!

Elizabeth Lilly / BuzzFeed

MingsBings are created by Ming Tsai, a chef, entreprenueur, author, James Beard award winner, Emmy winner, and host of Simply Ming on PBS. (Watch Simply Ming, it's a delight! I watched it often with my mom in quar lockdown.). In 2017, Ming's wife Polly was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer and decided to go vegan in hopes of lowering inflammation. Ming realized quick vegan meal options were severely lacking, so he sought to create his own. He started with a veggie patty and now has three varieties of MingBings! It's also worth knowing that profits are shared with Family Reach and Dana-Faber Cancer Institute, packaging is designed with minimal environmental impact, and the vegan patty creation process uses less water, land, and production than meat. 

They're vegan, and gluten- and nut-free. Oh and they are FREAKING DELICIOUS. I've tried most all flavors at this point and they're so easy to heat up, which is great news if you have an air fryer! The one shown her is a Veggie-Filled Bing, which I ate late-night after a few min in the air fryer. 

Get the variety pack from MingsBings for $64.99 (includes 4 original Veggie-Filled Bings, 4 Buffalo Cauliflower Bings, and 4 Plant-Based Sausage & Peppers Bings).

33. And a frozen side of Mexican-style street corn from a brand that makes a ton of VERY good vegetarian frozen foods because cooking is hard and having some help (even with a side!) seriously lightens the burden.

Tattooed Chef

So I've tried most everything on Tattooed Chef's site and it's all great. Like, I said before, I'm a convenience QUEEN so frozen food that's actually good is more or less my siren song. Last time I had it I was able to quickly heat it up on the stovetop and pair it with a Fiesta MingsBing that OK, yes also has corn in it. But for me, I can hardly ever eat too much corn. I was able to eat it as a side for two more meals and it heated up just as well the second and third time around! (I'm also a big fan of the Veggie Hemp Bowl, Organic Riced Cauliflower Stir Fry, and Cold Brew and Dark Chocolate Smoothie Bowl).

Get it from Tattooed Chef for $10.

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.